What is a Pre- or Post-Conference Workshop?
The pre- and post-conference workshops for the Outdoor Professional Conference (OPC) are designed to provide attendees with a more comprehensive learning experience. These workshops offer hands-on training, expert-led sessions, and unique networking opportunities, allowing participants to delve deeper into key topics related to outdoor recreation and education. The sessions cater to various skill levels, from foundational knowledge to advanced concepts, ensuring that all attendees can enhance their expertise and take away valuable insights.
Each workshop is facilitated by experienced professionals and often includes a blend of online and in-person sessions. These opportunities allow attendees to expand their skill sets, connect with peers, and apply new techniques and strategies in their professional roles. Additional registration is required for these workshops, which are tailored to maximize the value of the overall conference experience. You may also attend these workshops without conference registration.
2026 Pre Conference Workshops
Date: Monday, November 16th
Fee: $70.00
By: Turn Left Adventures - Eli La Mouria
This hands-on CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) for Providers workshop equips outdoor professionals, instructors, and program staff with practical lifesaving skills designed for real-world response. Participants will learn how to recognize and manage life-threatening emergencies through a structured and approachable framework emphasizing scene safety, early recognition, and
confident intervention.
This workshop is delivered through Wilderness Medical Associates and follows industry standards for CPR and BLS education. Participants receive a 3-year Wilderness Medical Associates CPR/BLS certification, with optional American Heart Association certification available upon request (+$20).
Date: Online & In Person: Monday, November 16th
Fee: $599.00
By: Experiential Consulting, LLC
What can outdoor & experiential education programs learn about risk management strategies from other industries such as nuclear power, fire fighting, or healthcare? What does the research tell us, and how can we apply new solutions to old problems? Using our new (2026) textbook, join the Experiential Consulting team for a 6-week online training to apply these concepts to your workplace. Using a combination of reading, online activities, videos, podcasts, and weekly Zoom calls, we will embark on a journey together to learn about safety science.
Date: Monday, November 16th
Fee: $329.00
By: Alpenglow Education Consulting
Your staff knows how to splint a broken ankle, but do they know what to do when a participant has mental or behavioral health needs?
Mental health crises are now the most common critical incidents in outdoor programs, yet most staff receive limited training in behavioral response. This session equips outdoor professionals with practical, field-tested tools to assess risk, de-escalate crises, and make sound decisions when professional mental health resources are limited.
Participants will learn a standardized framework for responding to the most common behavioral emergencies in outdoor settings: suicidal ideation, panic attacks, self-harm, eating disorders, and trauma responses. Through scenario-based training, attendees will practice crisis assessment, safety planning, documentation protocols, and post-incident care, skills they can implement immediately when they return to their programs.